Donald Trump expresses optimism on U.S.-India trade deal amid ongoing negotiations

US President Donald Trump has  said the talks with India on tariffs are “coming along great” and he expects the US to have a trade deal with India.

“The prime minister was here three weeks ago and they want to make a deal. We will see what happens,” Trump told reporters.

As part of ongoing discussions on the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement, representatives of India’s Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative met in Washington, D.C. from April 23-25. This follows earlier bilateral discussions held in March 2025 in New Delhi.

“During the meetings in Washington, D.C., the team had fruitful discussions on wide ranging subjects covering tariff and non-tariff matters. The team discussed the pathway for concluding the first tranche of the mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement by Fall of 2025, including through opportunities for early mutual wins. While productive Sectoral expert level engagements have taken place through the virtual format,  in-person Sectoral engagements are planned from end May,” said the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

The productive discussions are part of bilateral efforts in line with Leaders’ Statement of February 2025 to enhance and expand India-U.S. economic ties and supply chain integration through the Bilateral Trade Agreement, it said.

On Tuesday, Trump signed a new executive order easing on auto component tariffs amid pressure from the US automobile industry. Imported cars are now exempted from additional tariffs on aluminum and steel, in an attempt to avoid multiple taxes stacking up.

For automobiles assembled in the United States, automobile manufacturers shall be eligible to receive an import adjustment offset amount applicable to Section 232 duties on automobile parts. Automakers will be eligible for tariffs that are equivalent to 3.75% of the value of a U.S.-made car in the first year of the reimbursement, followed by 2.5% in the second year.

The reprieve come close on the heels of President Trump visiting Michigan for a rally outside Detroit—the hub of automobile manufacturing in the U.S. — to commemorate 100 days since he took office for the second time.